It will be noticed that Dan. 11: 5 assumes that we shall recognize the identity of the

king of the south, and verse 6 speaks familiarly of the king of the north. We have been

prepared for some such terms as these by Dan. 8: 8, where the fourfold division of

Alexander's kingdom is said to be towards the four winds of heaven. In agreement with

this, we find in Dan. 7: 2, 3:--

It is impossible for us at the present time to say which of the four successors of

Dan. 7: 4-8 is the lion with eagle's wings, or which is the bear or the leopard or the

monster. But that they speak of the future resuscitation of these four kingdoms is a

matter beyond doubt. Taking everything into account we learn from scriptural prophecy

to watch closely the "north" and the "south" kingdoms--northern Syria and Egypt. The

wars and the policies that have been connected with these two powers in the past but

foreshadow the "Eastern Question" of the time of the end. The endeavour to promote

alliances by marriages such as that of Berenice, daughter of Ptolemy II to Antiochus II;

or of Cleopatra to Ptolemy V, will again be attempted but prove futile. In this connection

the structure proves of great value, for it reveals the fact that the final antichristian king

will be proof against such allurements. This may, at first, seem strange, but it is in

keeping with the doctrines of demons exposed in  I Tim. 4:,  which will include

"forbidding to marry".

It will be seen from the structure that the words, "in his estate" occurs four times. The

Hebrew word ken means a base (as in I Kings 7: 31), and in the first three references of

Dan. 11: in the LXX is translated by the word etoimasia, "a preparation". The latter is

used in the N.T. of the work of a forerunner. Does this not seem to indicate that Satan,

ignorant of the "times and seasons" which the Father has kept in His own power, is

perpetually "prepared" with his man. Here, in Dan. 11:, we have several kings in

readiness, should the end have come. To this principle may be ascribed the close likeness

which some outstanding characters in history have had to the prophetic picture. Quite a

number of prophetic students believed that Napoleon was the man of sin. More recently

Mussolini has been named. There may be many more, but at the end, Satan will be

prepared with his man.

It would appear from Dan. 11: that towards the time of the end, and arising out of

either Syria or Egypt, there will be several very marked anticipations of the man of sin.

The description of the first abortive attempt is given in Dan. 11: 7-19, where we read of

war between the kings of the north and south, and of an unsuccessful attempt to make

Judaea independent, and so to "establish the vision". The verse concerned in the latter

phrase needs some revision. The words, "the robbers of thy people" (Dan. 11: 14) may

mean "the violent ones among thy people". These would be revolutionists who would

league themselves with an apostate power to gain their own ends. They shall fail,

however, for God alone is able to restore Israel to their land.

While Babylon and Nineveh have passed away, Egypt, Greece and Persia remain to

this day, and it is from among these kingdoms that the last great oppressor shall arise.